Cruise ships may consider changing their routes to Mexico: FCCA
The letter sent by the FCCA to the Mexican government warns that the most important shipping companies in the world expected the Non-Resident Fee to be applied until 2026.
The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), which includes companies such as Carnival, Disney, Norwegian, Princess, and Royal Caribbean International, among others, warned that the new charge of 860 pesos (42 dollars) for cruise passengers will make trips to Mexico more expensive compared to other Caribbean destinations, which will reduce the flow of international tourists, as well as the arrival of ships.
In an interview with El Financiero, Michele M. Paige, Chief Executive Officer of the FCCA, said that the charge was approved without prior consultation with the industry, so she asked the government to delay its implementation until January 1, 2026, to allow for further discussions.
“Our cruises are sold between 18 and 24 months in advance, when they add a tax of 42 dollars per person arriving from a cruise ship to Mexico and they don’t give us any time to see how we will be able to face it, each cruise ship will have to analyze if it can face it or make changes in its itinerary, it is a serious impediment to business,” he said.
He pointed out that this new charge –which is for immigration services, a fee that was exempt for more than 10 years for cruise passengers and that is only paid by foreign tourists who visit Mexico by air and land–, makes the country more expensive compared to other Caribbean destinations such as the port of San Martin in the east of Puerto Rico where port fees of 14.39 dollars are charged; while in Mazatlán they already pay 16.08 dollars and in Cozumel 28.85 dollars.
Source: El Financiero
